Carpet-tacker



(No Model) S. S. .GRANNIS.

Carpet Tanker No. 229,397. Patented June 29,1880.

N. PETERS. PHOTD-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. u c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY S. GRANNIS, OF BED WING, MINNESOTA.

CARPET-TACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,397, dated June 29, 1880.

Application filed March 22, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY SMITH GRAN- NIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Red Win g, in the county of Goodhue and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oarpet Tackers, of which the following is a specification.

My present improvements relate especially to a carpet-tacker for which Letters Patent were granted me January 27, 1880, under No. 223,905.

In my said patent I show the tubular tackconduit as having its lower end terminating in a driving-hammer and provided above said hammer end with a lateral tack-escape orifice, which deflects the tack from a vertical line by an inclosing-case having a tack-exit and spring-jaws for guiding and holding the tack in position to be driven.

The objects of my present improvements are to provide means whereby the tack may travel without deflection or liability to turn end for end in a practically direct vertical line from the moment it is dropped into the chute until driven in the carpet, and to drive the tack by a conduit of hammer-forming rods.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved carpet-tacker; Fig. 2, avertical section, showing the tack-driving mechanism at rest; Fig. 3, a similar section, showing the tack-driving mechanism in position as driving the tack; Fig. 4, a detail, showing the combined chute and hammer of contractible rods; Fig. 5, a detail of the tube which carries the spring jaws and carpet-holding point; and Fig. 6 a sectional detail, on an enlarged scale, showing the tack driven. Fig. 7 shows a bottom view of Fig. 5, and Fig. 8 a section on the line or w of Fig. 4:-

The tack-conduit A is of metallic tubing, and its upper end terminates in a solid crookhandle, B, which is held by the person while standing erect. A suitable mouth, 0, at the commencement of the crook and on its outer side, receives the tacks as they are dropped point downward into the conduit, which is of a diameter sufficient only to permit of the free passage of the tack-head. This crook-handle permits of a convenient mode of driving the (No model.)

tack by pressure, and acts also as a guide to indicate the proper position of the tacker in brin ging the griping-point always to the front, as will be presently described.

Instead of this tube terminating at its lower discharge end in a solid hammer, as in my former patent, I make it somewhat shorter and continue its tube-like form by a series of rods, a a a. a, firmly secured to said tube and capable of being contracted or brought together at their free ends to form a hammerhead, 72, Fig. 6, whereby I attain by one and the same means a hammer or. driving head, a

continuation of the tack-conduit, and an uninterrupted vertical discharge of the tack.

A spiral spring, 0, embraces this tack-conduit tube A, and also the upper portion of a tube, D, and is confined by collars d 0, one upon the tube A and the other upon the tube D; but the main function of the tube A is to contract the rods a a and to carry means for holding the tack in position to be driven.

The bottom partof the tube D has a contracted conical end, f, Fig. 5, terminating in a tubular casting, h, properly secured, which has a pricking-point, g, for holding the carpet after it is stretched and during the driving of the tack. This casting h has side apertures, i t, on opposite sides, one set above and at right angles to the other, to receive the lip ends of the two sets of spring-jaws k and l, as shown. The jaws k are flat metal springs attached on opposite sides of the tube D, and, projecting downward, meet in the upper aperture 1', to receive and hold the tack and keep it in position to receive the impact of the hammer, merely gripiug the tack under its head, while the springs l embrace the lower portion of the tack and hold it vertically, so that it will be driven 0 straight by the hammer, as shown in Fig. 3. These springs do not quite meet, but are far enough apart to permit all of the tack to pass except its head.

This tack-driving mechanism is surrounded 5 by an inclosing-case, E, as seen in Fig. 1, similar to that shown in my said patent, except that in addition to the spring-stop m, which limits the ascent of the conduit A against the action of the spring, it has also a spring-stop, T, which, piercing said case, catches above the collar e on tube D and keeps it in place against the upward action of the coil-spring. To release either case when the apparatus is desired to be taken apart it is only necessary to pull back first the stop-spring m, to remove the inelosing-case, and next the stop-spring r, to remove tube D. Notehes s s in these collars, in connection with a rib, t, on the inner side of the inclosing-case E, prevent the parts from turning and keep the point g to the proper position.

The contracted or conical exit of the tube D performs an important function in being the means whereby the series of rodsa of the tackconduit are contracted or brought together intoacompact ham mer-head as they are pressed down. By this means I avoid the use of a separate hammer and any supplemental tack-tube and give the tack a direct traveling way, so that it is utterly impossible for it to turn end for end, since it is held in the same channel from the moment it is dropped until driven.

Perhaps I may mention the slight curve given to the conduit in torming the crook-handle; but this is so slight that it practically amounts to a through direct line of travel, and of itself this curve might be dispensed with.

The carpet may be stretched by any stretcher; but it is much easier to use rubbers or rubbersoled shoes and stretch it with the foot, striking the carpet with a forward shoving motion of the feet. Then, holding the tacker upright, put one tack in the mouth at the crook, point down, adjust the edge of the carpet with the griping or pricking point, then press down slowly hard enough to drive the tack. The coil-spring then acts to raise the driving, mechanism, and the operation may be repeated.

It is obvious that the spring-jaws aml the casting h may be attached to eitherthe inclosing case or tube 1). It is also obvious that the conduit of hammer-forming rods may be used with one pointed inclosmg tube or case.

Any suitable number of hammer-forming rods may be used; but I prefer four as being well adapted for the purpose.

I claim- 1. In a earpet-tacker, a tubular tack-conduit terminating in a series of contractible rods, in combination with a covering-tube terminating in a conical or contracted exit, whereby said rods are contracted to form a compact drivinghead, substantially as described.

2. In a earpet-tacker, the combination of the conduit A, provided with crook-handle B C, with the tube D, provided with bottom pricking-point, g, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a carpet-tacker, the spring-stop 1' upon the inclosing-ease, in combination with tube 1), provided with collar 6, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a carpet-tacker, of a tubular tack-conduit terminating in a series of contractible rods to form a compact drivinghead, with an inclosing-tube terminating in a conical or contracted exit and provided with springjaws and a bottom perforated casting, within which said jaws operate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A carpet-tacker consisting of the tubular tack-conduit terminating in a series of contractible rods and provided with a crook-handle, a covering-tube for said conduit terminating in a contracted exit and a pricking-point, the spring-jaws. the ham mer-retractin g spring, and the illClOSillg case, all constructed for use substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SIDNEY S. GRAN N18.

\Vitnesses F. Joss, W. (J. W1LLIsToN. 

